Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 415 Cosmic Storm
“We can’t save them now,” Rowan calmly analyzed. “Approaching rashly will only infect us as well. We need to figure out how this effect works first, and then find a solution.”

The two retreated to the edge of the hall, away from the fighting area. From this position, they could observe the entire battlefield relatively safely.

Rowan began to carefully analyze the phenomena he observed. First, everyone who entered the central area of ​​the hall was infected, without exception. Second, the infection seemed to spread through some kind of contact; direct physical contact or a collision of laws could lead to transmission. Finally, those infected completely lost their minds, leaving only their most primal killing instincts.

"Did you find anything?" Silver Moon asked Rowan about his analysis.

“I suspect this hall is equipped with some kind of special law field,” Rowan shared his speculation. “This law field can amplify negative emotions within people, especially anger and hatred.”

"Then why weren't we affected?" Silvermoon asked, puzzled.

"It could be because we didn't enter the core area of ​​the law field," Rowan explained, "or it could be because our willpower was strong enough to resist this influence."

Indeed, given their true strength, they possess strong resistance to various attacks based on the laws of nature. Ordinary illusions or mental influences have little effect on them.

"So what do we do now?" Silvermoon asked about the next steps.

Rowan pondered for a moment, "We have two options. The first is to find the control core of this law field and try to shut it down. The second is to wait for the effects of the law field to subside naturally."

“The wait could be very long,” Silvermoon analyzed, “and we’re not sure if this effect will last forever.”

“Then we can only choose the first option,” Rowan decided. “We need to find the control core of the Law Field.”

The two began moving along the edge of the hall, searching for possible control mechanisms. The walls of the hall were carved with countless intricate runes, all faintly glowing, clearly part of some kind of constructed law.

“These runes are arranged in a very regular pattern,” Silvermoon observed the runes on the wall, “it feels like some kind of huge magic circle.”

“If this entire hall is a giant magic circle, then the control core should be in…” Rowan’s gaze shifted to the center of the hall, “in the place where the battle is most intense.”

Indeed, judging from the construction principles of a magic array, the control core is usually located at the geometric center of the entire array. And right now, that location is precisely the area where the battle is most intense.

“This is troublesome,” Silvermoon said with a wry smile. “How can we get close to the control core without getting infected?”

“I have an idea,” Rowan began to formulate a plan, “we can use a remote attack to disrupt the control core from the periphery.”

"But the problem is, how do we determine the exact location of the control core?" Silvermoon asked.

Rowan carefully observed the battle in the center of the hall, searching for possible clues. Soon, he noticed a detail: all the infected warriors unconsciously avoided a specific area on the ground when attacking.

“Look there,” Rowan pointed to a spot in the center of the battlefield, “that circular pattern. Everyone is consciously or unconsciously avoiding it.”

Following Rowan's gaze, Silver Moon indeed spotted the peculiar pattern. It was a complex circular rune, distinctly different from the surrounding runes, and radiating a much stronger energy fluctuation.

“That should be the control core,” Silvermoon agreed with Rowan’s assessment.

“The problem now is how to destroy it,” Rowan began assessing possible attack options. “That location is at least a hundred meters away from us, and it’s surrounded by crazed warriors.”

“We can use a law-based attack,” Silvermoon suggested, “concentrating all our efforts on a ranged strike against that rune.”

“But we must be careful not to reveal our true strength,” Rowan cautioned. “Although no other rational people are observing us right now, we will be regrouping with other teams later.”

Indeed, if they displayed strength exceeding that of a sixth-order stellar-level being, it would arouse unnecessary suspicion. They needed to find a way to disrupt the control core while maintaining their disguise.

“Then let’s attack using the standard of a sixth-order stellar-level weapon,” Silver Moon understood Rowan’s consideration. “Attacking a few more times should achieve the same effect.”

The two began preparing their attack. Rowan concentrated the power of the wind element, forming a sharp wind blade. Silver Moon, on the other hand, gathered the power of the water element, preparing to unleash a high-pressure water jet attack.

"Three, two, one, attack," Rowan gave the order.

Two attacks of law were simultaneously fired at the control rune in the center of the hall. The wind blade and the water flow accurately hit their target, leaving obvious marks on the surface of the rune.

Disappointingly, neither attack caused any real damage to the rune. The rune only dimmed slightly, but quickly regained its original brightness.

"The defenses are stronger than we expected," Silvermoon analyzed. "It seems we need even stronger offensive capabilities."

“Let’s try a few more times,” Rowan decided, “continuous attacks always have a cumulative effect.”

For the next ten minutes, the two launched a series of ranged attacks on the control rune. Each attack dimmed the rune slightly, but none caused any fundamental damage.

Worse still, the fighting in the hall was becoming increasingly fierce. Several martial artists had already been seriously injured in the frenzied battle, and if it wasn't stopped in time, someone could very well die.

“We must intensify our attack,” Silvermoon said anxiously. “If this continues, Amy and the others will be in mortal danger.”

Rowan was also worried about his teammates' safety, but he knew that rashly revealing his strength might cause even greater trouble. Just as he was hesitating, the battlefield suddenly changed.

During the frenzied battle, Amy was struck by a warrior from the Flame Legion, and blood flowed from her chest. Although the injury wasn't fatal, she would likely bleed to death if the fight continued.

“We can’t wait any longer,” Rowan decided. “We must save them, even if it means revealing some of our strength.”

But just as Rowan was preparing to unleash a more powerful attack, a strange voice suddenly came from the other side of the hall.

"Interesting. It seems someone has discovered the secret of the Wrath Array." The two immediately turned to look and saw a mysterious figure in a black robe standing at the entrance of the hall. This person's aura was extremely powerful, far surpassing any of the martial artists present.

"Who are you?" Rowan asked warily.

“I am the guardian of this place,” the mysterious figure replied, “and also the controller of this wrathful magic circle. Warriors capable of resisting its influence are rare; you two are qualified to undergo the true trial.”

Upon hearing this explanation, Rowan and Silvermoon understood. This so-called Wrath Array was not an accident, but a trial deliberately set up by the Storm King. Only those who could resist the influence of rage and hatred were qualified to continue exploring further.

"What about our teammates?" Silvermoon asked worriedly.

“Their trial has failed,” the guardian replied coldly, “but I can dispel the magic circle's effects and restore their sanity. In return, they will be teleported out of the temple and never be able to enter again.”

This was a difficult choice. Rescuing their teammates meant losing the opportunity to continue exploring, but not rescuing them went against Rowan's principles.

Ultimately, Rowan made his decision: "Disarm the magic circle; saving lives is the priority."

The guardian nodded and waved his hand to dispel the effects of the wrathful magic circle. Instantly, all the warriors who were fighting frantically stopped, the red light in their eyes gradually faded, and reason returned to their eyes.

"What...what did I just do?" Amy stared at the weapon in her hand and the bloodstains around her, completely unable to believe what had just happened.

But there was no time to explain. True to his word, the Guardian immediately activated the teleportation array, sending all the failed trial participants out of the temple.

The hall instantly became empty, leaving only Rowan, Silver Moon, and the mysterious guardian.

“Now, the real trial has only just begun,” the Guardian said. “Are you ready?”

As soon as the guardian finished speaking, the entire hall began to change violently. The originally solid stone walls gradually became transparent and eventually disappeared completely. The ground also began to dissolve, as if being decomposed by some invisible force.

Rowan and Silver Moon found themselves suspended in a completely unfamiliar space. This was no longer an underground structure, but an endless starry sky. Countless stars twinkled around them, the Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a ribbon, and the magnificent spectacle of the entire universe unfolded before their eyes.

"This is... a virtual space?" Silver Moon observed her surroundings in shock. "Or is it the application of some kind of spatial law?"

"It must be a higher level of law structure," Rowan said, equally awestruck by the magnificent sight. "To be able to create such a realistic starry environment, the Storm King's strength is truly unfathomable."

The guardian's voice echoed through the starry sky, as if from the depths of the universe: "Welcome to the Starry Trial Grounds. What the Storm King Severus was most proud of in his lifetime was not his ability to control storms in the ocean, but his understanding and mastery of cosmic storms."

As the guardian explained, strange phenomena began to appear in the distant starry sky. Visible flows of energy began to emerge in the once tranquil universe. These energy flows displayed a variety of colors, as dazzling as the aurora borealis, but the power they contained was terrifying.

"The cosmic storm is about to begin," the Guardian continued. "This is the ultimate law and secret that the Storm King has spent his life researching. Only those who can persevere to the end during the cosmic storm will be qualified to receive his legacy."

"A cosmic storm?" Silvermoon asked nervously. "What kind of test is it exactly?"

“You will soon find out,” the Guardian’s voice began to fade, “Remember, this is not merely a test of strength, but also a trial of will and understanding. The legacy of the Storm King belongs only to those who truly comprehend the essence of the storm.”

Before the words were even finished, the energy flow in the distance suddenly intensified. The once gentle starlight began to turn violent, and countless energy rays intertwined in the air, forming a massive energy vortex.

The scale of this vortex is beyond imagination, with a diameter of at least tens of thousands of kilometers, and the energy it contains is enough to destroy an entire galaxy. Even more astonishing is that this vortex is still expanding, spreading destructive energy fluctuations in all directions.

"Is this a cosmic storm?" Rowan observed the distant energy vortex with a grave expression. "It's far more terrifying than I imagined."

Indeed, the power of a cosmic storm far surpasses that of ordinary natural storms. It not only encompasses the laws of wind but also incorporates the mysteries of space, time, and even some higher-level laws. Even domain lord-level powerhouses dare not easily venture into a storm of this magnitude.

"How should we deal with this?" Silver Moon felt the increasingly intense energy pressure and began to feel the pressure.

“Observe first,” Rowan calmly analyzed. “Since this is a trial of inheritance, there must be a way to pass it. The key is to understand the true purpose behind the Storm King’s setting of this trial.”

As the cosmic storm approached, the two began to feel unprecedented pressure. It wasn't just the physical energy impact, but also an immense mental oppression. It felt as if the weight of the entire universe was pressing down on them.

"Resist or adapt?" Silvermoon began to consider her strategy. "If this is a trial of understanding the storm, then simply resisting might not be the right answer."

“I’ve been thinking about this too,” Rowan nodded in agreement, “What is the essence of a storm? Is it destruction, or something else?”

The cosmic storm continued to expand, its edges now reaching near the two individuals. As the storm's energy fluctuations touched their bodies, a strange sensation welled up within them. This was not a simple energy shock, but rather a resonance with some deeper, more profound law.

“I feel it,” Silvermoon suddenly said. “This storm isn’t attacking us, but…testing us?”

“That’s right,” Rowan agreed, “it’s testing our understanding of the laws of storms.”

As their understanding deepened, the two began to attempt to resonate with the cosmic storm to some extent. This was neither resistance nor complete submission, but rather a delicate state of balance.

Silvermoon was the first to try. She closed her eyes and focused her consciousness into the storm, attempting to understand the mysteries of its laws. Initially, she sensed the immense power and complex structure of the laws contained within the storm.

“It’s incredibly complex,” Silvermoon frowned. “This storm contains at least a dozen different laws, and the interactions between them are extremely subtle.”

Indeed, the complexity of cosmic storms far exceeds the comprehension of ordinary people. The laws of wind are only one foundation; more important are the laws of space, the laws of time, and even some higher laws that even Rowan cannot fully comprehend.

As the trial progressed, the storm's intensity gradually increased. Energy fluctuations became more violent, and the interactions between the laws became more complex. This change placed extremely high demands on the trial participants' comprehension and willpower.

(End of this chapter)